LOOKING BACK

Published: Monday, July 20, 2009 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, July 19, 2009 at 11:21 p.m.

50 years ago this week

A city jail prisoner slipped out and returned to jail with a gallon of moonshine whiskey that he dropped and broke while trying to open the door to go upstairs to the jail. He faced another charge — violating the prohibition law.

A newly formed private school corporation announced the opening of Tuscaloosa Christian School for first- and second-graders in the fall.

John J. Bowers was named vice president of research and development at Central Foundry.

One man was killed and Mal Moore, 19-year-old rising sophomore quarterback at the University of Alabama, suffered shock and exhaustion when a ditch where they were laying pipe caved in.

Charles Sprayberry resigned as principal of Crestmont School in Northport to accept a position in another system.

Panthea Reid became the 1959 Tuscaloosa County Maid of Cotton.

25 years ago this week

Woodrow W. Clements, chairman of the board and president of Dr Pepper Co., was presented a plaque denoting his family home at 1802 20th Ave. in Northport as a historic structure.

Harold N. Stinson, Stillman College president from 1967 to 1981, died at 63.

Ken Stabler, most accurate passer in the National Football League, said he would retire from football after one more season.

Coach Ray Perkins said he was 'chomping on the bit to get started' on his second season at the UA helm.

A construction worker readily gave his name to Tuscaloosa News photographer Amy Kilpatrick when she snapped a Friday the 13th photo of him scoffing at superstition by walking under a ladder. He may have regretted that when a Northport policeman recognized him as a wanted man.

10 years ago this week

The attorney for a Fayette banker accused of stealing more than $18 million from Citizens Bank said his client would plead guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and embezzlement.

Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Hardy McCollum confirmed that Coker residents had met all criteria to hold an election to vote on becoming a town.

A Florida 16-year-old faced jail time and probation for his role in rock-throwing incidents that resulted in the death of UA professor Julie Laible.

Design problems plagued the newly opened Bibb County Jail at Brent, keeping it half empty.

Two local eateries prepared to meet in court with the Mezzanine claiming that Arman DeLorenz committed a breach of contract when he opened and operated Arman's of Tuscaloosa after signing a contract stating that, if terminated, he would not open a restaurant of his own for three years.

Five years ago this week

An organization of Southerners who felt disenfranchised by the political system announced that it planned to hold a conference in Montgomery to create 'a permanent forum for the expression of distinct Southern interests, Southern grievances and Southern solutions.'

Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Tommy Smith opposed parole for a man convicted of killing a Tuscaloosa A&P grocery store assistant manager in 1973.

Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, called for congressional hearings on the oversight and management practices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

A team of scientists, including a UA professor, began a study on seven Nazi ships that were attacked and sunk during World War II in hopes of learning whether the shipwrecks have become viable underwater reefs in deep water.

The Tuscaloosa City Council revoked the business license of The Yard bar on the Strip after learning police had responded to calls there 182 times since it opened two years earlier and issued 32 citations to its patrons.

A panel appointed by the governor to study health-care costs considered a proposal to make some state employees and teachers who smoke or are overweight pay more for their health insurance.

One year ago this week

An annual audit of the city of Northport's finances revealed the city spent $178,389 more than it made in revenue during the 2006-07 fiscal year.

A Vance man was sentenced to eight years in prison plus five years of supervised release after he admitted crossing state lines to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.

University of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer was served with a subpoena after arriving at SEC Media Days to testify in a libel and defamation lawsuit over the NCAA investigation of the UA football program.

A four-hour standoff ended peacefully after an armed man surrendered to police and was arrested at an apartment complex off Rice Mine Road. The man had threatened to kill his 28-year-old daughter.

The County Commission agreed to borrow funds to set aside nearly 250 acres of Hurricane Creek as a public park, including the environmentally sensitive section known as the M-Bend.

<p class="bold allcaps">50 years ago this week</p>
<p>A city jail prisoner slipped out and returned to jail with a gallon of moonshine whiskey that he dropped and broke while trying to open the door to go upstairs to the jail. He faced another charge  violating the prohibition law.</p><p>A newly formed private school corporation announced the opening of Tuscaloosa Christian School for first- and second-graders in the fall.</p><p></p><p>John J. Bowers was named vice president of research and development at Central Foundry.</p><p></p><p>One man was killed and Mal Moore, 19-year-old rising sophomore quarterback at the University of Alabama, suffered shock and exhaustion when a ditch where they were laying pipe caved in.</p><p></p><p>Charles Sprayberry resigned as principal of Crestmont School in Northport to accept a position in another system.</p><p></p><p>Panthea Reid became the 1959 Tuscaloosa County Maid of Cotton.</p><h3>25 years ago this week</h3>
<p>Woodrow W. Clements, chairman of the board and president of Dr Pepper Co., was presented a plaque denoting his family home at 1802 20th Ave. in Northport as a historic structure.</p><p></p><p>Harold N. Stinson, Stillman College president from 1967 to 1981, died at 63.</p><p></p><p>Ken Stabler, most accurate passer in the National Football League, said he would retire from football after one more season.</p><p></p><p>Coach Ray Perkins said he was 'chomping on the bit to get started' on his second season at the UA helm.</p><p></p><p>A construction worker readily gave his name to Tuscaloosa News photographer Amy Kilpatrick when she snapped a Friday the 13th photo of him scoffing at superstition by walking under a ladder. He may have regretted that when a Northport policeman recognized him as a wanted man.</p><h3>10 years ago this week</h3>
<p>The attorney for a Fayette banker accused of stealing more than $18 million from Citizens Bank said his client would plead guilty to federal charges of bank fraud and embezzlement.</p><p></p><p>Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Hardy McCollum confirmed that Coker residents had met all criteria to hold an election to vote on becoming a town.</p><p>A Florida 16-year-old faced jail time and probation for his role in rock-throwing incidents that resulted in the death of UA professor Julie Laible.</p><p></p><p>Design problems plagued the newly opened Bibb County Jail at Brent, keeping it half empty.</p><p></p><p>Two local eateries prepared to meet in court with the Mezzanine claiming that Arman DeLorenz committed a breach of contract when he opened and operated Arman's of Tuscaloosa after signing a contract stating that, if terminated, he would not open a restaurant of his own for three years.</p><h3>Five years ago this week</h3>
<p>An organization of Southerners who felt disenfranchised by the political system announced that it planned to hold a conference in Montgomery to create 'a permanent forum for the expression of distinct Southern interests, Southern grievances and Southern solutions.'</p><p></p><p>Tuscaloosa County District Attorney Tommy Smith opposed parole for a man convicted of killing a Tuscaloosa A&P grocery store assistant manager in 1973.</p><p>Alabama Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa, called for congressional hearings on the oversight and management practices of the National Collegiate Athletic Association.</p><p></p><p>A team of scientists, including a UA professor, began a study on seven Nazi ships that were attacked and sunk during World War II in hopes of learning whether the shipwrecks have become viable underwater reefs in deep water.</p><p></p><p>The Tuscaloosa City Council revoked the business license of The Yard bar on the Strip after learning police had responded to calls there 182 times since it opened two years earlier and issued 32 citations to its patrons.</p><p></p><p>A panel appointed by the governor to study health-care costs considered a proposal to make some state employees and teachers who smoke or are overweight pay more for their health insurance.</p><h3>One year ago this week</h3>
<p>An annual audit of the city of Northport's finances revealed the city spent $178,389 more than it made in revenue during the 2006-07 fiscal year.</p><p></p><p>A Vance man was sentenced to eight years in prison plus five years of supervised release after he admitted crossing state lines to have sex with a 14-year-old girl.</p><p></p><p>University of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer was served with a subpoena after arriving at SEC Media Days to testify in a libel and defamation lawsuit over the NCAA investigation of the UA football program.</p><p></p><p>A four-hour standoff ended peacefully after an armed man surrendered to police and was arrested at an apartment complex off Rice Mine Road. The man had threatened to kill his 28-year-old daughter.</p><p></p><p>The County Commission agreed to borrow funds to set aside nearly 250 acres of Hurricane Creek as a public park, including the environmentally sensitive section known as the M-Bend.</p>